Munster SFC Semi-Final – Kerry vs. Cork

Kerry drew with Cork in the Munster GAA Senior Football Championship semi final at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney on Sunday on a scoreline of Kerry 0-13 Cork 1-10.

Cork led at the interval by 1-5 to 0-6 thanks to a goal from Pearse O’Neill in the 12th minute. Cork extended their lead to 5 points in the second half before a late comeback by Kerry brought them level thanks to an injury time free by Bryan Sheehan.

The replay is fixed for next Saturday evening June 13th at 5:00pm in Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

Opportunity missed as Rebels fail to finish off Kingdom

Kerry 0-13 Cork 1-10

By Jim O’Sullivan of the Irish Examiner newspaper

Monday, June 08, 2009

AFTER this dramatic finale to yesterday’s Munster football championship semi-final in Fitzgerald Stadium – when a Bryan Sheehan free earned Kerry a replay in the third minute of injury time – the big question supporters from both sides were asking themselves was how holders Cork failed to win a game they dominated for long periods.

The answer was that they failed to drive home their advantage when they were in control against the home side which was hit by an early ankle injury to Tommy Walsh and which struggled to find its rhythm until the final quarter.

Ultimately the visitors were almost powerless to halt the momentum built up by a re-energised Kerry, who drew inspiration from two particular points from Tadhg Kennelly and Sheehan (his only one from play) before Colm Cooper levelled scores for the second of only three times in the 67th minute.

With captain Graham Canty showing the way with a fisted point after 15 seconds, Cork settled very quickly and added another score before Tommy Walsh opened the Kerry account in the eighth minute.

Interestingly, with the Kerry attack and the Cork defence being slightly rearranged (Kieran O’Connor was a late replacement on the Cork side for Ray Carey, operating at left-half), it was the visitors who achieved most in terms of efficiency. The net effect was that Kerry weren’t threatening very much and that further alterations following Walsh’s departure didn’t achieve any worthwhile improvement.

From Cork’s perspective, it was a good news story all the way forward, with the exception of James Masters, who started in the left corner (on Tom O’Sullivan) and hardly saw the ball before being replaced by Michael Cullen – who, in time, was to more than justify his introduction.

Cork were much more successful around the middle of the field, where Kerry’s Tadhg Kennelly started promisingly in his debut game but made little enough impact after moving to wing-forward after Darragh O Se was brought on for Tommy Walsh. Alan O’Connor in particular impressed for Cork, and benefiting from strong support from the half-backs, Pearse O’Neill was to prove very effective at centre-forward.

It was O’Neill who scored the game’s only goal in the 12th minute, finishing with a powerful shot after being put through by Paul Kerrigan, who did some outstanding work on the left flank of the attack.

However, two minutes earlier, Kerry had the opportunity to put the ball in the net, but Donncha Walsh opted for a point when Cooper was free. Cork, likewise, passed up an even better chance immediately after O’Neill had scored, when Daniel Goulding also elected to put the ball over instead of taking on the goalkeeper.

Worst of all from Kerry’s perspective, was a missed penalty in the 23rd minute, when Cooper made a very poor attempt at scoring after Ger Spillane had fouled Darran O’Sullivan.

Even though Darragh O Se was quick to make an impact, Kerry’s finishing was weak and at times the quality of ball delivered into the inside players was poor. But, this was also a tribute to the work of the Cork defence, with Shields commanding at full-back and Anthony Lynch very consistent. And, to be fair to the Kerry backs, they were also more involved in the second quarter, with Marc O Se doing some good work along with brother Tomás.

At the break, it was 1-5 to 0-5 for Cork.

The pattern of the game didn’t change much over the course of the third quarter, with Darran O’Sullivan failing from an early 45, before he was off the field temporarily after a nose-bleed before being eventually replaced.

Not surprisingly, after having been brought in as a blood sub, Bryan Sheehan was retained (at full-forward), hitting over the first of his five scores in the 44th minute.

Confident Cork were still forcing the pace, being boosted by a point from substitute Noel O’Leary in the 36th minute. Conversely, Kerry were still at odds with their shooting – Darragh O Se ballooned a ball wide and there were later bad misses from Sheehan and Galvin – and they seemed to be in trouble when a fine score from O’Neill had Cork five points clear with 15 minutes remaining.

However, after what was the biggest margin up to then, the game started to move in Kerry’s direction, stemming in the main from a virtual monopoly of possession gained at midfield. Kennelly was more assertive, Darragh O Se was dominant and, the benefit of having a reliable free-taker on the field in the person of Sheehan was to prove crucial.

Tomás O Se was seen at his best, defending strongly and powering his way forward several times and substitute David Moran quickly started to contribute, just as he had done in similar fashion against the Rebels in Croke Park last year.

After a Sheehan free in the 59th minute, Kennelly and Sheehan put over two inspirational points which lifted the Kingdom. And after another Sheehan free (won by Moran), Cooper put over a super point under pressure from several defenders, after having first lost his footing.

That levelled the scores and as a replay loomed, U21 star Colm O’Neill regained the lead for Cork from a ‘45. With time running out, it looked all over from Kerry, but a foul on Tomás O Se around the 50-yard line and an unwise intervention by O’Leary which saw the ball being advanced to a more favourable position produced an equaliser from Sheehan.

* A minute’s silence was observed in memory of former Kerry minor and U21 player Jimmy Falvey, who died recently.

Kerry revival forces replay

From the Irish Times newspaper

Kerry 0-13 Cork 1-10: For the guts of an hour in Killarney it looked like Cork were destined for another Munster final appearance but a storming last quarter from Kerry, led by substitute Brian Sheehan, ensured there was no winner in the latest duel between the old enemies who will have to meet again to write another chapter in their rivalry.

Cork’s smothering defence and a timely goal from Pearse O’Neill had ensured control of the game by the break and their three point lead was stretched to five in the second half.

There looked no way back for a Kerry side that had misfired all afternoon and struggled to get a clear sight of goal, thanks largely to efforts of Michael Shields and Anthony Lynch in the Rebels full back line.

Sheehan, who was initially introduced as blood substitute for Darren O’Sullivan, then came on to score five points, including a pressure free at the death to take the game to a replay, set for next Saturday at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

“We showed some battling qualities in the second half but we gave ourselves a mountain to climb,” said Kerry manager Jack O’Connor afterwards.

“I thought we were sluggish early on and Cork hit the ground running. They were all that we expected.They are a team that is full of running, they certainly have great legs all over the field and we;ve had to say they were a real handful.

“We’re happy enough to get out of here with a draw, we looked beaten half way through the second half.”

Limerick await the eventual victor in the final after a four-point win over Clare at Cusack Park later in the afternoon.

At Fitzgerald Stadium, Cork were hungrier from the off, winning a free from the throw-in which set Graham Canty scampering through the middle to fist over the bar and open the scoring.

A Donncha O’Callaghan free then doubled the lead as the Rebels set of at pace.

Nothing went right for Kerry early on. Cork defended from the front and the Kingdom initially had difficulty get the ball down the pitch, despite the best efforts of Paul Galvin.

When they did, Colm Cooper and Tommy Walsh failed to take early chances, but the latter eventually got them off the mark before Donnacha Walsh levelled the scores.

Kerry had to work hard for it though and after Tommy Walsh was forced off through injury, the onus was on Cooper. But the Gooch was misfiring under pressure from the excellent Lynch, whose brilliant block down of a Galvin effort typified Cork’s desire.

Worse still, was the arrival of a Cork goal immediately after Darragh O’Se’s introduction for Walsh. With Kerry seemingly distracted nobody had the legs or the wit to track Pearse O’Neill’s surging run and the centre forward latched on to Paul Kerrigan’s superbly timed hand-pass to make no mistake from close range.

Daniel Goulding then opted to fist over when a shot at goal looked on but the Cork lead was now four and Kerry looked short of ideas.

Tommy Griffin, though, was beginning to impose himself on the game and his bursts through middle caused problems for Cork and led directly to points from Michael Shields free and Dara O’Se.

With the gap reduced to two, Kerry were given the opportunity to take a lead they scarcely deserved when Marc O’Se’s brilliant run ended with a hand pass in the box to Darren O’Sullivan, who was clumsily pushed in the back by Ger Spillane.

Cooper stepped up to take the penalty, but again he shot badly wide and after the yellow-carded Spillane was replaced by Noel O’Leary, Donncha O’Connor put three points between the teams with another free for Cork.

Goulding was first to find his mark after the break, but Sheehan announced himself immediately after replacing Darren O’Sullivan.

Paddy Kelly then missed a golden opportunity to hit the net when he shot tamely past Diarmuid Murphy’s right hand post and Cooper finally lost Lynch to find his range with a quality point.

Back-to-back points from O’Connor and O’Neill, however, gave Cork a five-point lead, but it prompted Kerry into an unlikely fightback.

Sheehan grabbed his second before Tadhg Kennelly, quiet throughout, sent over a booming point to get the Kerry fans on their feet and signal a call to arms.

Sheehan answered it with one from play and then a free, before Cooper dug a point out of nowhere when being hounded by Lynch and Shields.

Former Cork under-21 star Cormac O’Sullivan looked to have won it when he kept his nerve to fire over a 45, minutes after coming on to the pitch, but Sheehan showed his bottle in injury time after a cheap free was given away by the Cork defence.

Bryan Sheehan’s free, seconds from the end of added time, saved Kerry’s blushes at Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday afternoon after Colm O’Neill’s superb 45′ looked to have handed Conor Counihan’s Cork a famous victory in the Munster SFC semi-final.

Munster SFC Quarter-final:
Kerry 0-13 Cork 1-10

Sheehan’s task was aided by the Cork defenders who swarmed around the ball, leaving referee Maurice Deegan with no choice but to move what proved to be almost the last kick of the day closer to the Town goal.

The second-half substitute duly obliged to bring what was an entertaining encounter to a conclusion on a day when Jack O’Connor’s side looked out of sorts for large parts of the game.

Cork went in three points up at the break with Pearse O’Neill’s brilliant goal the difference between the sides.

The 2008 All-Ireland finalists and current league holders could have been on level terms but for the fact Colm ‘Gooch’ Cooper missed a penalty on 31 minutes.

Kerry lost Tommy Walsh through injury after just 11 minutes but he was ably replaced by Kerry legend, Darragh O’Sé.

The Gaeltacht midfielder made his presence felt not long after when he slotted over a lovely point after 28 minutes.

Cork relied on the freetaking ability of Donncha O’Connor and Daniel Goulding in the opening half as well as the dash of O’Neill to keep their noses in front.

The second half was six minutes old when Goulding slotted over the best point of the day to push the reigning Munster champions four points ahead.

In the next 20 minutes the sides exchanged some excellent scores as it looked increasingly like Kerry would need a goal to salvage a draw.

Noel O’Leary, with his hunched style, gave Cork a boost after 46 minutes with a fine point before normal service was resumed at the other end of the field, ‘Gooch’ swinging over a super score from out the field.

On 56 minutes, O’Neill, who was to end up with 1-2 to his name, made a barnstorming run up the field before pointing.

That score was quickly bettered by Tadhg Kennelly’s spectacular effort on 59 minutes to bring the gap back to three points.

However, the score of the day was yet to come. When it did arrive it was Cooper who supplied it. Under pressure from a number of tenacious Cork defenders, the ‘Gooch’ managed to swing a leg at the ball. It glided over the black spot and the sides were now level going into added time.

Up stepped substitute O’Neill who was nerveless in his execution of the 45′ but Sheehan, who scored a number of vital frees for the Kingdom after being sprung from the bench, was to have the last laugh.

The Kingdom, strong All-Ireland SFC favourites, scraped a draw against Cork in their Munster SFC semi-final joust in Killarney.

Kerry trailed by five with time ticking on in the second half, but showed class and character to come back and force a replay.

O’Connor told Setanta: “When Cork were five up halfway through the second half, it looked to be all over but in fairness to our fellows, they battled away.

“We pegged them back, point by point. [Bryan] Sheehan kicked a couple of great frees for us that kept us in it and we’re still there.

“We showed good battling qualities in the second half but we gave ourselves a mountain to climb. I thought we were sluggish early on – Cork hit the ground running and they were all that we expecteced: a big, athletic team full of running.

“They’ve great legs all over the field and you’d have to say they’re a real handful.”

Kerry must now travel to Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday for the replay, but their manager is delighted rather than forlorn about this.
“That’s OK as well – the game is going to bring both teams on and if either team is to go the distance this year, games like today’s will be invaluable.

“We are happy enough to get out of here – we looked beaten halfway through the second half.”

Munster SFC: Cork let Kerry off the hook

From the Hogan Stand newspaper

07 June 2009

Cork and Kerry finished level in Killarney, but the Rebels will be kicking themselves after a late fade-out allowed the Kingdom back into the match.

Kerry were never ahead in this game and Pearse O’Neill’s first-half goal looked like it would prove decisive, but once they got a sniff of blood, Jack O’Connor’s charges battled back for a 0-13 to 1-10 draw.

The Leesiders were the better side for an hour but Kerry finished strongly and a run of five successive points between the 59th and 67th minutes handed them a lifeline. Cork went back in front deep into injury time but again Kerry wriggled off the hook with a late, late free from supersub Bryan Sheehan (0-5).

The first half went according to script for the visitors, who led by 1-5 to 0-5 at the interval. Pearse O’Neill blasted the goal in the twelfth minute, while The Gooch squandered a penalty with a terrible attempt at the other end.

Kerry, who were forced to start without Kieran Donaghy, also suffered a big blow when The Star’s replacement – Tommy Walsh – had to go off after just eleven minutes as his ankle problem flared up again. So Jack O’Connor had plenty of work to do at the break.

Captain Graham Canty got the Rebels off to a flying start with a fisted point at the end of a strong run from centre back after just a handful of seconds. Donncha O’Connor doubled the differential with a pointed free in the second minute.

Colm Cooper hit a surprising wide two minutes later when he eased past his man after being picked out by the purposeful Paul Galvin and Daniel Goulding also pulled a left-footed free badly wide at the other end in the sixth minute.

Tommy Walsh, who was clearly carrying an injury, added another poor Kerry wide and the No.14 finally opened the Kingdom’s account with a nicely-floated finish just into the uprights on eight minutes. Tommy Griffin surged forward to set up Donnacha Walsh and it was 0-2 each after ten minutes.

The hosts suffered a blow when Tommy Walsh had to be called ashore after just eleven minutes – but Darragh O Se is no bad replacement! The An Ghaeltacht clubman resumed his customary position in midfield, with Tadhg Kennelly moving into the forward ranks.

Within a minute of the substitution, Cork caught Kerry napping with what would prove the only goal of the game. Centre forward Pearse O’Neill broke clear of Griffin and sent a scorching low shot to the bottom corner of the net. Seconds later, Goulding added a fisted point when he fleetingly had the goal at his mercy – 1-3 to 0-2.

Ger Spillane and Galvin each saw yellow for an off-the-ball altercation, and the latter’s body language suggested that he was more sinned-against than sinner. Kerry were struggling to get scores: Cooper fired a free wide; a Galvin effort was blocked; and O Se dropped a shot short into the arms of grateful Rebel ‘keeper Alan Quirke.

Declan O’Sullivan also sent a Kerry shot wide on 20 minutes but Cooper then converted a free after a clear foul on captain Darren O’Sullivan.
O’Neill landed an impressive Cork point to restore the four-point cushion but Kerry quickly halved their leeway with points from Donnacha Walsh – this time off his left foot – and the irrepressible Darragh O Se, with an inspirational 28th-minute score.

The towering Michael Cussen was introduced for James Masters at full forward for Cork, but would have little impact on proceedings.

Then came the game’s first controversial moment: Darren O’Sullivan went to ground and was awarded a penalty, with Spillane adjudged to have pushed the No.15 in the back. Quirke got a yellow card for protesting, but could Spillane have seen a second card if he had shoved the Kerryman? Was it even a penalty? It mattered not in the end An out-of-sorts Cooper scuffed his kick badly and his tame attempt bobbled impotently to the right of the post and wide, like an oversized dice trying to roll up the side of a mountain.

Spillane was now walking a red-card tightrope and Rebel boss Conor Counihan wisely elected to replace him with the equally-robust Noel O’Leary. At the other end of the pitch, O’Connor maintained his 100% record from frees with a lovely right-footed finish from off the deck out wide on the left to make it 1-5 to 0-5 in favour of the holders.

Two minutes were added at the end of the first half but there were no further incidents of note as the Leesiders held a three-point cushion at the short interval.

The second half started as the first half had ended for Kerry with Cork’s Nicholas Murphy prominent in midfield and further wides accrued by Griffin and Darren O’Sullivan (from a 45).

In the 41st minute, Goulding brilliantly clipped over a point from an acute angle after wonderful assistance from O’Connor. Declan O’Sullivan sprinted through the Cork defence and was fouled by Kieran O’Connor as he tried to get his shot away blood substitute Brian Sheehan made no mistake from the free.

Cork nearly got a second goal when Paddy Kelly’s fisted effort was almost diverted to the net by Cussen, whose 6’7″ frame wasn’t quite long enough on this occasion. But Noel O’Leary took his point in the 46th minute to make it 1-7 to 0-6.

Kelly was then inches off target when he found himself in a one-on-one with Kerry ‘keeper Diarmuid O’Sullivan on 48 minutes. A goal there would have settled it. Cooper floated over a trademark point in the 51st minute to bring it back to a three-point match but O’Connor replied instantly from a free: 1-8 to 0-7 with 17 minutes of normal time left.

At the town end, Kerry’s forwards were unable to get any change out of a mean-looking Cork defence, while the Rebels looked more capable of carving out openings. A quick free from Canty sent O’Neill free and the impressive No.11 surged forward to fist a 55th-minute point and bring his personal return to 1-2 – the exact difference between the team (1-9 to 0-7).

Then, without warning, came five Kerry points in eight minutes as the pre-match favourites finally came to life

Donning the No.23 shirt, Sheehan (whose substitution was now permanent) curled over a Kerry free with just under twelve minutes to go and Kennelly bravely kicked a spectacular point from distance in the 60th minute, following a bustling Tomas O Se burst forward. Eight minutes from the end, Sheehan registered another great Kerry point from distance and the Kingdom men were now back within two.

Sheehan (free) was again the provider as Kerry took their fourth point in six minutes and the extent to which the Reds were rattled was all too apparent as Nicholas Murphy kicked nervously wide when he should have pointed.

In the 67th minute, Cooper outsmarted and outfought two markers to kick Kerry’s fifth consecutive score and tie the scores up at 0-12 to 1-9.
Substitute David Moran kicked a potential winning point wide in the 70th minute as Kerry strived to go ahead for the first time at a crucial juncture.

Deep into the second of two added minutes, Cork substitute Colm O’Neill displayed nerves of steel by converting a 45 to edge the Rebels back in front. The winning score surely? But there would be more added minutes and Sheehan hit the leveller from a free in the fourth additional minute.

That last score was a real heartbreaker for Cork. The initial free was awarded for a heavy tackle by Nicholas Murphy on Tomas O Se but indiscipline from the Rebel players resulted in the ball being moved forward and that extra yardage brought the kick within Sheehan’s range.
Sheehan’s late, late fifth point made it 0-13 to 1-10.

The familiar foes must meet again.

Ticket Information

Tickets for this game will be available to purchase through the Munster GAA website (munster.gaa.ie) from 3.00p.m. on Tuesday May 26th.

Senior Citizens please note that a refund of €10 is available on stand tickets on production of valid ID prior to entering the stadium at designated turnstiles on the day of the game.

Admission to the stand at Sunday’s Munster Senior Football Championship Semi-Final between Cork and Kerry is by ticket only. Please note stand tickets are currently on sale through the Munster GAA web site (https://munster.gaa.ie) where tickets can be purchased and printed at home at no additional cost. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster. Any remaining stand tickets will be on sale on Sunday while stocks last.

Admission to the terrace ONLY can be obtained using tickets purchased already or by paying cash on the style.

Turnstiles will open at 11am on Sunday, The ticket office at D’Alton’s Ave will open at 10.30am to sell any remaining stand tickets, while stocks last.

It has been said that familiarity breeds contempt, but in the case of these old Munster rivals, there will be nothing but mutual respect in Killarney on Sunday.

The NFL Divisions One and Two champions meet under the ‘Reeks for a match that is expected to attract more than 35,000 spectators – a return to the halcyon days of Munster Championship football.

Munster SFC Semi-finals:
Killarney: Kerry v Cork, 14.00

Kerry are many people’s favourites to land the All-Ireland title this year under Jack O’Connor, while Cork are renascent under Conor Counihan and are considered, quite justifiably it should be added, dark horses to upset the big two, Kerry and Tyrone.

Remarkably, these teams have met 16 [sixteen] times since 2000, with Kerry claiming ten victories, Cork just three and a further three games drawn.

One of Cork’s wins came last year, when the Rebels shocked the then All-Ireland champions to take the Munster title at Páirc Ui Chaoimh. Kerry got their revenge later in the season, ending the Leesiders’ unexpected run in the All-Ireland semi-final after a replay.

Cork have made further progress since last year, proving their impressive campaign was no flash in the pan. The Division Two title came after they thoroughly outplayed Monaghan in the final – a team Kerry have traditionally struggled against in Croke Park.

Counihan, the Cork boss, used the National League campaign wisely and introduced a few more quality players to an already healthy squad. Paul Kerrigan, Paddy Kelly and Ray Carey have all forced their way into the starting line-up for Sunday, with Kerrigan set to follow in his father Jimmy’s footsteps by carving out a long and successful career in the blood and bandage.

The Rebels, as anyone who was present for the League finals will attest, have one of the biggest – if not the biggest – teams in the championship this year, but Kerry play a physical brand of football and should be able to cope with Cork’s giants, wing-forward Kelly, midfielders Nicholas Murphy and Alan O’Connor. Michael Cussen, who could be sprung from the bench after playing for his club, Glanmire, last weekend will also provide a goal threat with his towering presence.

Under O’Connor this year, Kerry appear to have improved and grown in confidence. The charismatic Caherciveen man used more than 30 players in a league campaign in which Kerry rarely moved out of third gear, but still won without much fuss. Like his counterpart, the Kerry boss has unearthed several stars of the future.

Surprisingly, Darragh Ó Sé will break his 14-year run in Kerry championship teams as he starts on the substitutes’ bench. O’Connor has entrusted Micheal Quirke and championship debutant Tadhg Kennelly with midfield duties. Their battle against O’Connor and Murphy should be one of the key areas on Sunday, with Ó Sé, an old nemesis of Cork, likely to come in to lend a hand in case of emergency.

Anthony Maher and Seamus Scanlon, both midfielders, miss out through injury, while Kieran Donaghy will be a massive loss in attack. However, captain Darran O’Sullivan, dubbed, somewhat unfairly, a supersub, will get the chance to shine from the start as he joins Colm Cooper and Tommy Walsh in a Kerry full-forward line that will test one of Cork’s potential weak spots.

Michael Shields starts at full-back for Cork and should pick up Cooper, while Anthony Lynch or Carey will have the unenviable job of picking up the Young Footballer of the Year, Walsh.

Kerry have a few problems of their own in defence, which will be thoroughly examined by a brilliant Cork attack. Marc Ó Sé and Padraig Reidy flank Tom O’Sullivan, who needs a big game to win over the doubters at full-back. Killian Young is not fully fit and is named on the bench.

James Masters, Donncha O’Connor and Daniel Goulding have been on fire this year and Cussen, a substitute, could be introduced as an impact sub after his goalscoring exploits against the same opposition last year.

After a few years in which the competitiveness of Munster football has been called into question, what we are guaranteed on Sunday is a close game. Kerry will be out for revenge after throwing away their Munster crown last year after leading handsomely at the break.

The incentive for Cork is to prove that they are real All-Ireland contenders this year, and there would be no better place to start than against a Kerry side brimming with talent and overflowing with confidence.

Cork already have a championship win under their belts after hammering Waterford, but home advantage and Jack O’Connor’s nous should shade it for the Kingdom.

This has been the busiest rivalry of all since the introduction of the All-Ireland qualifiers in 2001. Remarkably, next Sunday’s Munster semi-final will be the 17th meeting between the counties since 2000. They have met in one All-Ireland final, five semi-finals (one replay), six Munster finals (one replay) and four semi-finals (one replay) with the results going as follows: Kerry 10; Cork 3; Draws 3.

They met three times in 2008-2006-2002 and twice in 2007 and 2005. The last year Kerry and Cork didn’t meet in the championship was in 1997. However, there has been yearly action (sometimes twice and three times) since then which makes it the most regular fixture in the entire championship programme.

Kerry will be having their first outing in this year’s championship while Cork already have a win behind them, having beaten Waterford by 2-18 to 1-7 in the first round.